How To Be An Ideal Team Player – Winning Teams

How to Cultivate the Ideal Team Player

In construction, the foundation of every successful project lies not in the materials or machinery but in the team. If you want your team to perform at its highest level, it’s crucial to foster a culture where every individual is empowered to contribute, collaborate, and grow. But how do we achieve this? How do we ensure that each team member is not just filling a role but actively contributing to the success of the entire project?

The answer lies in identifying and cultivating the ideal team player. This concept, introduced by Patrick Lencioni, revolves around three core virtues that every team member should embody: humility, hunger, and smartness. In this blog, I’ll show you how these three qualities can transform your team, making them more engaged, more productive, and ultimately more successful.

Dysfunctional Teams and Misaligned Goals

The pain every construction leader knows too well is watching a project stall due to a lack of cohesion within the team. Perhaps one or two key players aren’t pulling their weight, or there’s friction between team members that hinders progress. These issues aren’t always easy to spot, but they are destructive nonetheless. The truth is, you can have the best plans and tools in place, but without the right team dynamic, nothing will get accomplished the way it should.

Dysfunctional teams lead to frustration, inefficiency, and ultimately, missed deadlines and overblown budgets. It’s not just about technical skills it’s about how people work together. When team members don’t share the same goals or values, or when there’s a lack of alignment in their approach to the work, the entire project suffers.

Lack of Humility, Hunger, and Smarts

The failure pattern I’ve seen time and time again comes down to three major issues: lack of humility, lack of hunger, and lack of smartness and they show up in different ways on every team.

1. Humility: A lack of humility leads to ego-driven decisions. Individuals with excessive pride often focus on their own recognition and status rather than the success of the team. They are reluctant to ask for help and struggle to recognize the contributions of others. This can create division and resentment.
2. Hunger: Without hunger without the drive to go above and beyond team members will do just enough to get by. They’ll only fulfill the minimum requirements, which often leads to missed opportunities for improvement or growth. A lack of hunger can slow the team down and make them more susceptible to burnout.
3. Smartness: Not everyone is “smart with people.” A lack of people smarts leads to poor communication and decision-making. People who aren’t savvy with group dynamics can misread situations, create unnecessary tension, or fail to address problems effectively. A lack of smartness in managing people results in a team that can’t collaborate efficiently.

Recognizing the Struggles Within Your Team

I’ve worked with many teams where these issues were evident. The most frustrating part was knowing that these weren’t necessarily “bad” people they just weren’t the right fit for the team, or they hadn’t yet been equipped with the tools to succeed. And that’s where empathy comes in. It’s not about pointing fingers or placing blame. It’s about understanding that a lack of humility, hunger, or smarts can be changed. They are qualities that can be cultivated over time, through leadership, coaching, and a shift in culture.

As a leader, it’s crucial to recognize when these qualities are lacking and take the necessary steps to help your team grow. This isn’t about firing people or building resentment it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive and become the best versions of themselves.

From Struggling Team to Cohesive Unit

There was a project I managed where we struggled with team cohesion. A few of our key team members just weren’t getting along. One of them wasn’t as engaged as the others, and there were constant clashes in communication. This was especially problematic because the project required everyone’s input every single detail had to be coordinated, and every team member’s expertise was crucial.

Rather than letting the frustration simmer, I decided to get to the root of the issue. I spoke with each of the team members individually to understand their concerns and motivations. I asked them what they needed to feel more engaged and connected with the project. Through these conversations, it became clear that a few of them lacked humility in how they communicated with each other they were unwilling to listen and collaborate openly. Others lacked hunger for taking on additional responsibility or pushing the project forward. And finally, a couple of people lacked the smartness to navigate the dynamics of group work—tensions kept escalating instead of being resolved.

We implemented changes to address these gaps, focusing on humility through active listening exercises and hunger by giving team members more autonomy and responsibility for specific tasks. We also worked on people skills, providing the tools and coaching to improve communication and conflict resolution. Over time, the team began to click. The project moved forward faster, and the morale of everyone on-site improved. We turned a group of individuals into a high-performing team, and it was amazing to see.

Culture Drives Results

The emotional insight here is that building a team isn’t just about picking the right people it’s about cultivating the right culture. A culture of humility, hunger, and smartness doesn’t just happen overnight, but it’s something that can be developed with the right leadership. When your team embraces these qualities, they become more than just workers they become a united, high-performing unit that will push through challenges, meet deadlines, and exceed expectations.

When people feel like they’re part of something bigger, when they know that their work matters, they perform at their highest level. The key to fostering this environment is leading by example. You, as the leader, must embody these values and instill them in everyone on your team.

Teaching the Framework: Cultivating the Ideal Team Player

To build a successful, high-performing construction team, focus on cultivating these three key qualities:

• Humility: Humble people don’t seek the spotlight they lift others up and share credit. They know that the success of the team is greater than individual accolades. As a leader, it’s essential to model humility and encourage your team to do the same. Foster a culture where everyone’s contributions are recognized, and encourage team members to put the needs of the group ahead of personal gain.
• Hunger: Hungry people don’t wait for someone to tell them what to do, they take initiative. They’re self-motivated and constantly look for ways to add value. Encourage hunger by providing opportunities for team members to take on new challenges, learn new skills, and grow in their careers. When people are hungry to improve and succeed, they inspire those around them to do the same.
• Smartness: People smarts are essential for successful collaboration. Smart team players understand the dynamics of the group and know how to communicate effectively. Help your team develop these people skills by encouraging open, honest communication and providing them with the tools to resolve conflicts. When team members understand each other’s perspectives, they work together more effectively.

Implementing These Principles on Your Project

If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow. But the first step in building a high-performing team is to lead by example.

Start by assessing your team and identifying areas where humility, hunger, or smartness might be lacking. Create an environment where these qualities are encouraged and developed through coaching, feedback, and positive reinforcement. Be transparent about your own challenges and demonstrate the behaviors you want to see in your team.

Connect to Elevate Construction’s Mission

At Elevate Construction, we’re passionate about building high-performance teams. We help construction teams cultivate a culture of humility, hunger, and smartness so that they can work together effectively and achieve project success. When your team is aligned and motivated, everything else falls into place.

A Challenge for You

Building the right team starts with being the right leader. If you want to create a high-performing, engaged team, start by focusing on humility, hunger, and smartness. These are the qualities that will set your team apart and ensure long-term success. As Jason Schroeder always says, “A team that understands the bigger picture, communicates openly, and is aligned in their goals will always succeed.” The question is: are you ready to build that team?

FAQ

What are the three key traits of an ideal team player?
The three key traits are humility, hunger, and smartness. Humble people put the team first, hungry people take initiative and strive for growth, and smart people understand and navigate group dynamics.

How can I cultivate humility, hunger, and smartness in my team?
You can foster these qualities by leading by example, offering opportunities for growth, and encouraging open communication. Provide feedback and mentorship to help team members develop these traits.

Why are humility, hunger, and smartness important for a construction team?
These qualities ensure that team members collaborate effectively, take responsibility, and communicate openly. When these traits are present, the team becomes high-performing and capable of overcoming any challenges.